Middle School Newsletter

To our Middle School Community, 

The Spring term has started off fantastically. It was wonderful to see all of our middle school students back last Tuesday - they seem to have grown loads over the break! It's interesting to speak 'up' to students who are starting to tower over you! 

In this morning's assembly we reminded our students about their conduct in the playground before and after school, including a message about always using appropriate language. Please support us by reiterating this message at home. We will contact parents if inappropriate conduct is reported. Thank you for your support in this matter. 

Uniform reminder - please ensure your child comes to school in their full uniform. We've had colourful trainers instead of black school shoes and many missing ties last week. 

Dates For Your Diary 

Sunday 20th - Friday 25th January: Year 8 Erasmus exchange to Portugal

Monday 29th January: Above and Beyond Out and About trip for January at Cafe 19

Wednesday 30th January: INSET Day (School closed for students)

Wednesday 30th January: Primary + some Y5/6 Young Voices performance at the O2 (Mr Start will send home details soon!)

Monday 4th February - Friday 8th February:  Online Safety Week

Tuesday 12th February: EvoGAMES 21.2 Sports Day 8:30 - 15:00

Monday 25h February - 1st March: British Science Week

Friday 1st March: Family Film Night - 5:30pm to 7:30pm 'The Pursuit of Happyness' £1 for entry, crisps and drink!

Wednesday 27th, Thursday 28th February & Friday 1st March: Hairspray Musical performances 18:00- 20:00

Thursday 7th March: World Book Day 

Tuesday 12th March & Wednesday 13th March: Parent's Evenings 15:30 - 17:30

Half term break - Monday 19th February - Friday 23rd February

Monday 25th February - Friday 29th February: Book Fair

Thursday 28th March: Great Oracy Exhibition (school closed)

Friday 5th April: Last day of term - school finishes at 13:00

Attendance Winners - week beginning 8/1/19

Year 5 - Matterhorn - 97.6%

Year 6 - Everest - 94%

Year 7 - Himalayas - 97.7%

Year 8 - Mont Blanc - 93.8%

Year Six Beowulf Banquet

Some of the Year 6 English groups started off their new focus novel Beowulf this week by holding a banquet. The event was complete with a roaring fire, grapes, mead and crackers to feast upon and a storyteller to tell tales of adventure and intrigue!  

Community Dancers

At the end of last term Ms Silvain was invited to a dance recital at Stratford Circus (and Ms Kyrk went as her plus one!). The dance troupe includes some of our middle school students (Miruna and Amina) and primary students as well. They did a fantastic rendition of Michael Jackson's Thriller. If you're interested in your child joining the free dance lessons, contact Stratford Circus for more information. 

If you have any stories of great things happening in our community outside of school and would like us to celebrate this in the newsletter, please send your story and a picture through to Ms Kyrk!

Year Seven Scientists

As part of their current Science focus on anti-biotic resistance, Year 7 visited the Science Museum this week to explore the Superbug Exhibition. They showed real spark and inquisitiveness. Some teachers recognised students were reported for incredible kindness and professionalism during the visit. We look forward to seeing their finished products at the end of the half term. 

Year Five Flying High!

Snowdon class in Year 5 were flying high this week, having a high-energy celebration of their attendance scores for the Autumn term. They bounced and bounded with Mr Starkey and Ms McLear. Now the challenge resets for all coaching groups - who will win the highest attendance for Summer Term? 

100% Attendance Crew!

A huge well done to these students who achieved 100% attendance last term! A 100% bronze badge is coming your way soon!

Year 5
Musa, Khadija, Albert P, Isabella, Aneesa, Sophie, Alexia, Nyla, Harjun, Marcell, Hannah, Jasmine, Daisy, Aysha, Selim, Tamiyah, Lia, Ghislaine, Deimante, Samiha, Albert V, Nafisah

Year 6
Aaishah, Alex D, Mayson, Isaiah, Aaliyah, Reem, Jacky, Afia, Milo, Joel M, Ria, Mariam, Panos, Adeeba, Zoha, Julia, Kishi, Ridhwan, Alex W

Year 7
Solomon, Elizabeth, Dwaine, Rehan, Kai, Isaac, Abdul, Rizwan, Mubarik, Imtiaj, Nebil, Shafee, Blerona, Delio, Amina, Mansur, Ashraf, Povilas, Alex I, Kalid, Muaad, Zayn, Ibtisam, Daria, Vlad

Year 8
Adrijus, Zak, Mahdi, Ioana, Angelina, Rafid, Taaha, Mariana, Kimberley, Arthur, Amir, Oliwia, Kajus, Martin

Our next Family Film Night... 

We will be holding our next Family Film Night - Friday, 1st March from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. This time around we will be watching The Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Smith and his son Jayden. We ask for a £1 donation for everyone who wishes to attend which includes popcorn and squash! Bring along a pillow and snuggle up to watch this uplifting film with us! (Rated 12+ - by sending your child you give permission for them to watch) More information on the film is available here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-pursuit-of-happyness 

Recognition last week 

The names below turned up multiple times on our recognition board last week. Well done to all the students who have gone above and beyond upholding our 3 Commitments for Choosing Kind, Stepping Up and being In the Zone. 

Being Share Aware: supporting your child to be safe online

During the Middle School years many children become active on social media. It can be hard to keep track of what your child is doing on social networks, apps and games. Or know how best to keep them safe. 

The NSPCC provides guidance for parents to help untangle the web and on how to teach your child to be Share Aware.  Follow this link to explore popular social networks, games and apps and to learn more about these to help support your child. Click on the image below to access the site. 

Spring 1 Curriculum Overviews

Please see this term's overviews below. These are all available on the School 21 website as well. 

This Week's Lunch Menu is Week 2!

Council to discuss 2019/20 budget proposals with residents at People’s Budget Forums

The People’s Budget Forums will be held on 16 January, 21 January and 24 January, giving residents a chance to speak with the Mayor of Newham, Cabinet members and officers about the budget proposals.

The proposals, which have been influenced by what residents have said during Citizens’ Assemblies, include investing:

•  £3m to pay our care staff the London Living Wage;

•  £1.4m into youth services to keep our young people safe;

•  £6.3m so that primary school children continue to eat for free;

•  £10.6m into Children’s Services;

•  £1.3m to support children with Special Educational Needs;

•  £1.4m to support 19,000 lowest income households by cutting the cost of their Council Tax;

•  £390,000 for free bulky waste collections;

•  An additional £500,000 to accelerate social housing delivery;

•  £250,000 to ensure residents are at the heart of our decision-making process.

In order to pay for this, a 2.9% increase in Council Tax is proposed alongside an Adult Social Care Precept of 2%. This additional payment of just 89p per week, for a Band D property, for the Newham element of Council Tax, alongside a planned programme of savings, will help fund new and improved services.

The Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, said: “These budget forums are another example of how we are continuing to put residents at the heart of everything we do.

“Setting the budget for 2019/20 is an important step for this administration and we want our residents to be informed about the process.

“I’m encouraging everyone to get involved, including young people, to come along to these People’s Budget Forums to find out more about how we’ll spend money as a council in the next financial year and learn more about what we do.”

The forums are part of a series of platforms created by the council to enhance governance and transparency; and ensure that Newham residents are more involved with decision-making. They will provide an opportunity to discuss how the council is funded, its 2019/20 budget proposals, and how residents can be involved in future budget decisions.

Newham People’s Budget Forums 

​Stratford & West Ham

​Thursday 24 January

​10.30am- 1pm

​Old Town Hall, Stratford, 29 The Broadway, Stratford, E15 4BQ

To register for your place, visit www.newham.gov.uk/PeoplesBudgetForum or email any comments to Peoples.Budget@newham.gov.uk​